Tokens of interaction: psycho-physiological signals, a potential source of evidence of digital incidents

Abstract

As part of a computing network, the human factor is a key component with high cognitive responsiveness to their environment. Cognitive responsiveness manifests as psycho-physiological signal change. With the proliferation of devices that measure and record psycho-physiological signal devices in user space, an opportunity arises to harness human cognitive functioning for potential cybersecurity applications. This research investigates how the electrical signals generated from the functioning of the body, respond to human interaction with digital Incidents. If we can find that response-related signal changes are consistently notable, and we can locate these response-related changes within recorded signal with an accuracy that is greater than chance, then we can claim that psycho-physiological signals contain markers of digital incidents. Applications of these markers include: triangulation of other evidence in digital investigation, input to cybersafety management tools for regulating immersive digital experiences for locked-in individuals.